Kody Funderburk, Cole Sands

[gabesullivan]

I have completely forgotten cole sands was on the major league roster. Is there any reason he's almost not being put in at all? It is so frusturating. Also, Funderburk is doing amazing in AAA and left handed, why not send down one of the mop up innings eater relievers for him? This front office and management make very questionable decisions regarding bullpen usage. 

[USAFChief]

"The bullpen is not a priority."

 

-D. Falvey

[Azviking101]

Continues to amaze me how many non major leaguers are currently on this roster but Falvey said they just couldn’t part with anyone at the deadline. 
 

Gallo, Balazovic, Winder, Sands don’t belong on any MLB roster but here we are 

[Parfigliano]

Hey Sands got an almost clean 0.1 inning of work in last night.  Lowered his ERA to 4.40 too.

[Doctor Wu]

Obviously, they have to juggle the 40-man roster to bring up guys like Funderburk, but yeah, I think he deserves a shot at this point. The other fringe pitchers we are using in the bullpen don't inspire much confidence. 

[TwinsDr2021]

19 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

Obviously, they have to juggle the 40-man roster to bring up guys like Funderburk, but yeah, I think he deserves a shot at this point. The other fringe pitchers we are using in the bullpen don't inspire much confidence. 

If the FO thinks there is even a chance they will be putting Funderburk on the 40 man this off season, there is no reason not to do it right now and see if he is even worth keeping on the 40 man this off season. He turns 27 this off season, so there is little to no reason to put him on the 40 and stick him in AAA next year.

Relievers being this old before debuting isn't a problem, but having a relief pitcher this old and with no expiernce taking up a 40 man spot should be unacceptable.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Two seasons in a row where the bullpen has been horrific. 

[Byrdman]

Been screaming for a bullpen overhaul for two years now.  Twins just don't believe in good relivers. Only person that is a must keep is Duran and maybe Jax. Everyone else can be upgraded.  But this team does not manage bullpens at all.  Last night was the perfect time to bring in Sands for 2+ innings when they pulled Ober.  But they also pulled Ober too early and should have let him go another inning or two.  But what ever.  SP should be going 100 pitches if they are holding there own this time of the year.  Just have a reliver ready at the 85 pitch count, incase they give up a string of hits/walks. 

[John Belinski]

Rocco never has and never will have a clue on how to handle pitchers, plus he really showed that last night. One of the worst days in Twins history was when they hired Rocco as manager and he will be manager for many more years. It is sad for Twins fans to watch Rocco try to manage a game like last night.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

On 8/19/2023 at 8:24 PM, USAFChief said:

"The bullpen is not a priority."

 

-D. Falvey

Which is an interesting philosophy considering they don't let their starting pitchers go beyond the 5th/6th innings.

[Kenny Powers]

It's not only handling the pitchers.  But it's the evaluation of talent.  I realize I have the wonderful benefit of hindsight.  But what if we had these three guys to fill out our bullpen?

Yennier Cano (R).  2023 stats:  1.65 ERA.  1.00 WHIP.  96.6 mph VFA

D. Coulombe (L).  2023 stats:  2.77 ERA.  1.10 WHIP.  91.5 mph VFA

Ian Hamilton (R).  2023 stats:  1.72 ERA.  1.17 WHIP.  96.3 mph VFA

I know everyone wanted them to go get bullpen help this year.  But their recent track record is not great.  Lopez, Fulmer and now Floro...none of them turned out to be any better than guys we already had in the system.  I'm all for giving these AAA guys an opportunity.  Certainly Funderburk.  And maybe see what Varland looks like coming out of the pen?

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, Byrdman said:

Twins just don't believe in good relivers. Only person that is a must keep is Duran and maybe Jax.

What's wrong with Thielbar?

[bespenson]

I totally agree with commenters here on this topic. Why not try Funderburk? Lots of places he could take on the 40-man. And why take out Ober last night? Why is he being babied year after, powers that be worried he'll pitch too many good innings (sarcasm). He says he can.

[BiggestRoccoFan]

9 hours ago, John Belinski said:

Rocco never has and never will have a clue on how to handle pitchers, plus he really showed that last night. One of the worst days in Twins history was when they hired Rocco as manager and he will be manager for many more years. It is sad for Twins fans to watch Rocco try to manage a game like last night.

It's sad to watch him manage any game.

[Doctor Wu]

21 hours ago, Kenny Powers said:

It's not only handling the pitchers.  But it's the evaluation of talent.  I realize I have the wonderful benefit of hindsight.  But what if we had these three guys to fill out our bullpen?

Yennier Cano (R).  2023 stats:  1.65 ERA.  1.00 WHIP.  96.6 mph VFA

D. Coulombe (L).  2023 stats:  2.77 ERA.  1.10 WHIP.  91.5 mph VFA

Ian Hamilton (R).  2023 stats:  1.72 ERA.  1.17 WHIP.  96.3 mph VFA

I know everyone wanted them to go get bullpen help this year.  But their recent track record is not great.  Lopez, Fulmer and now Floro...none of them turned out to be any better than guys we already had in the system.  I'm all for giving these AAA guys an opportunity.  Certainly Funderburk.  And maybe see what Varland looks like coming out of the pen?

Gotta agree about the evaluation of talent. It seems like this happens every year, and not just once or twice. The pitchers you mentioned have obviously thrived elsewhere, as has Tonkin in Atlanta, and both Law and Gibaut with the Reds. And then in the first game of this Brewers series, our old buddy Trevor Megill had a key strikeout in the 9th inning. In the past few years, Tampa Bay has also picked up some of our discards and utilized them effectively. Okay, some of these guys seemed like borderline roster additions at the time, but the fact is that they are playing quite well outside of the Twins system. If I were the Twins front office, or coaching staff, I'd be asking myself why this is happening so often. 

[RpR]

Some players have come to the Twins, over the years, and had there best or one of the best years ever; some have come and played like they wished they were some where else.

 

When Cruz left his performance died the day he left, at that, when Suzuki left his rose opened to full bloom for years.

Part of the game and maybe shows how dealing with FO and managers can help or kill an athlete.

[nicksaviking]

Obviously there's plenty of ways to build a bullpen. The Dodgers, Orioles and Rays use a mix of their homegrown players and other teams' castoffs. The Rangers, Astros and Atlanta have traded for some good arms, while developing a bit of their own talent.

This front office has gone both routes and failed every time. I don't think it's the strategy, I think it's the evaluation and implantation. Terry Ryan didn't know UZR from RC+, but he had a much better knack of putting a bullpen together.

[jaimedude]

At this point why not bring up Funderburk from the Saints and give him a shot. This Floro guy they got from Marlins isn't worth keeping. How many times do you have to see the Floro movie repeat itself.